Ex-Braves Pitcher John Rocker Goes Off on Pat Mahomes Sr. After Viral Shouting Match

In this story:
Former Atlanta Braves pitcher John Rocker appeared ready to fight Patrick Mahomes Sr. on Bourbon Street in New Orleans over last weekend. But instead of punches, the two former relievers are now exchanging words on X (formerly Twitter) this week.
"You wouldn't have had the balls to say that to my face the other night," Rocker wrote on X in response to a tweet from Mahomes Sr. on Feb. 11. "Lanky ass clown."
Mahomes accused the Braves relief pitcher as being the same as he was during his playing career.
You wouldn't have had the balls to say that to my face the other night.
— JohnRocker (@itsJohnRocker) February 12, 2025
Lanky ass clown. https://t.co/jlIpu1isFt
The social media exchange occured after Rocker and Mahomes had a real life encouter in New Orleans before the Super Bowl. Barstool Sports released video of the incident on Feb. 11.
Pat Mahomes Sr & John Rocker got into it in NOLApic.twitter.com/2q9TythCsQ
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) February 11, 2025
Barstool Sport's video of the Rocker-Mahomes shouting match reached about 20 million views in its first 18 hours after posting.
Rocker first explained on X that his argument with Mahomes was about a joke he made.
"This f****** loser can't take a damn joke," Rocker wrote. "Wish I laid him out right there and ruined his bull**** weekend even more."
On Super Bowl Sunday, Rocker tweeted that Mahomes' hair looked like overgrown pubic hair. But it's not clear if that was the joke Rocker was referring to that made Mahomes' father upset.
Patrick Mahomes hair looks like overgrown pubes
— JohnRocker (@itsJohnRocker) February 9, 2025
Rocker pitched three and a half seasons for the Braves from 1998-2001. He gained notoriety when he made several allegations from his experience in New York City during an interview with Sports Illustrated in Dec. 1999.
Due to the comments, Rocker has often been viewed as a racist and homophobic since then. He tried to re-enter the public light as a contestant on the CBS gameshow, Survivor, in 2014. But he was recognized and other contestants targeted him in the game's Tribal council during the season's third episode.
Mahomes pitched in the MLB from 1992-2003. Rocker, who is from Statesboro, GA, finished his baseball career with the then Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 2001-03.

Dave Holcomb writer covering the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Braves and Fantasy Sports for On SI. Holcomb has lived in the Atlanta area since 2017. He began his sports journalism career with The Star Ledger in northern New Jersey in 2013. During his career, he has written for numerous online and print publications. Holcomb has also self-published four books, including a novel in 2021. In addition to On SI, Holcomb also currently writes for Heavy.com and Athlon Sports.
Follow @dmholcomb